Agenda highlights of the UN General Assembly

New York, 24-30 September 2024

The 79th session of the UN General Assembly opened on 10 September 2024. The first day of the high-level general debate will be Tuesday 24 September.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, will address the General Assembly on behalf of the EU and will participate in a series of side events and bilateral meetings during the week.

EU priorities at the 79th UN General Assembly

Each year, the Council adopts priorities for the UN and the UN General Assembly, which guide the EU’s work for the year to come.

The Council’s priorities for the 79th UN General Assembly (September 2024–September 2025) centre on the EU’s determination to promote multilateral solutions based on the UN Charter and to speed up efforts to implement the 2030 agenda and the sustainable development goals. Taking into account multiple global crises, the EU’s overarching priorities are:

• supporting international peace and security
• advancing sustainable development and financing for development
• addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution

79th UN General Assembly: Council approves conclusions on EU priorities (press release, 24 June 2024)

Summit of the future

President Michel will attend the summit of the future on 22 and 23 September, where he is scheduled to speak on Sunday.

World leaders will discuss how the international system can evolve and address related issues, including peace and security, digital cooperation and the financing of development goals.

They are expected to adopt a ‘Pact for the Future’ that will help the international system to better meet the needs of current and future generations.

Summit of the future, 22 and 23 September 2024 

Bilateral meetings

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, President Michel will meet with leaders from around the world.

The EU at the UN General Assembly

The EU is committed to multilateralism, with a strong and effective UN at its core. Since 1974, the EU has been a permanent observer at the UN General Assembly.

Following the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution in May 2011, the EU has been given one of the first opportunities to speak among other major groups and can be presented by the EU’s external representatives (the President of the European Council, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European Commission and the EU delegation).

Since 2011, the President of the European Council has addressed the General Assembly on behalf of the EU.

EU at the UN General Assembly (background information)